Separable connector for flat multipleconductor cables



June 16, 1964 J. c. coLE ETAL 3,137,537

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR FLAT MULTIPLE-CONDUCTOR CABLES Filed Nov. 4,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS JUDSON C. COLE 9| JAMES R. HALL 71?- i kwww ATTOR YS June 16, 1964 J. c. COLE ETAL 3,137,537

SEPARABLE CONNECTOR FOR FLAT MULTIPLE-CONDUCTOR CABLES Filed Nov. 4,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS United States Patent C 3,137,537SEPARABLE CQNNECTOR FOR FLAT MULTIPLE- CONDUCTR CABLES Judson C. Coleand James R. Hall, Sidney, N.Y., assignors to The Bendix Corporation,Sidney, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 4, 1960, Ser. No.67,275 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-176) This invention relates to a separableelectrical connector and in the embodiment thereof illustrated hereinparticularly relates to a separable connector for cables in attened,tape form.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel separableconnector for multiple-conductor cables.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improvedseparable electrical connector which may be used to advantage withmultiple-conductor cables of the flat or tape type.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of a separableconnector of the type indicated, such -connector being characterized bythe positiveness of electrical connection between mating contactportions of the connector.

Still a further object of the invention lies in the provision of aseparable electrical connector which is particularly adapted for usewith a rigid circuit element such as a board containing a printedcircuit.

A still further object of the invention lies in the provision of aseparable electrical connector which is rugged and compact, wherein themating contacts make secure electrical contact with each other despitelong use under rigorous conditions and despite repeated engagement ofthe connector parts with each other and repeated disengagement of suchparts, and which does not add appreciably to the weight of an assemblywith which it is used.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description when the same is readin connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. l is a view in longitudinal section of a first connector part inaccordance with the invention, such first connector part being adaptedto receive an element such vas a printed circuit board and to providefor electrical connection to a second connector part;

FIG. 2 is a view in front end elevation of the connector part shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a View in longitudinal section of a second part of a separableelectrical connector, such second part being adapted to interfit withthe first connector part shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view in front end elevation of the second connector part;

FIG. 5 is a view in longitudinal section through an assembly of thefirst and second connector parts positioned in operative matingrelationship, a printed circuit board being shown operatively engaged inthe first connector part and such assembly;

FIG. 6 is an exploded fragmentary view in perspective of the assembly ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal section through an alternativesingle-ended connector part in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view in longitudinal section through a second alternativedouble-ended connector part made in accordance with the invention.

Patented June 16, 1964 In the embodiments shown in the drawings,theseparable connector of the invention is shown employed with a multipleconductor cable of the flattened or tape type. Whereas the connector ofthe invention displays perhaps its maximum advantages when used withsuch type of cable, it is to be understood that the connector of theinvention may also be used advantageously with cables of other types.

In FIG. 1 there is shown a first connector part, generally designated10, which is designed for use with an assembly such as that shown inFIG. 5. In such assembly the rear (right hand) end of connector part 10matingly interfits with a second connector part 11 to which is connecteda flattened multiple conductor cable V13. Connector part 10 is shownmounted upon and extending through a panel 12, which may be the wall ofa circuit-containing enclosure. The forward (left hand) end of connectorpart 10 is shown in the assembly as receiving and making electricalcontact with a flat circuit element such as a printed circuit board 14.

Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the first connectorpart 10 has an outer shell or housing 15 having a forward end portion 16of larger transverse dimensions and a smaller rear portion 17. Portions16 and 17 of the shell are connected by a smoothly curved necked-inportion 19. A flange 20 is connected to shell portion 16 adjacent therear end thereof so that the shell can be attached to a partition 12 inthe manner shown in FIG. 5.

A rubber or rubber-like electrically insulating insert 21 fits snuglywithin the shell 15 so as to form a seal therewith. Insert 21 isaccurately positioned within and retained from withdrawal from the shellby having an outwardly projecting boss 24 on the forward portion 22 ofthe insert interfitting within a hole 25 in the forward end of theshell. The insert is further retained within the shell by a second boss27 on the rear insert portion 26, boss 27 projecting outwardly within ahole 29 in the rear end of the shell. When the insert is so held, theintermediate curved portion 30 thereof snugly engages the inner surfaceof the curved portion 19 of the shell.

The forward portion 22 of insert 21 has a longitudinally extendingopening 31 therein, opening 31 being designed to receive a portion ofprinted circuit board 14 and also to position upper and lower contactfingers 35 and 36 making electrical contact with the various contacts onelement 14. The rear portion 26 of the insert has a laterally elongatedrecess or pocket 32, such recess containing a plurality of laterallyspaced contact lingers 34, each of which is integral with 'one ofcontact fingers 35 and 36, as the case may be. Opening 31, in theembodiment shown, has a height, that is, a dimension transverse to itslength and lying in the plane of the paper in FIG. 1, which is markedlygreater than that of recess 32.

The spring contact fingers 34 are integral with the respective upper andlower spring fingers 35 and 36. Such integral contacts are in the formof at wires made, for example, of beryllium-copper alloy, and areretained in an electrically insulating block 37 made, for example, ofplastic material which extends from side to side of connector part 10.The conductor wires may be molded in place within mounting block 37 andmay have la short bent portion 39 lying within the block in order with aplurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending grooves 42, 44 onthe inner wall thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, upper grooves 42 and lowergrooves 44 are .laterally spaced. The forward ends of the conductors 32,.3.5 project through an'opening at the forward end of seat 3`and thenextend angularly upwardly in a run 40. Forwardlyv of` run Vlltlmtheconductor extends longitudinally of connector part '10 for a,substantial distance along the bottom of groove`42, 4following which itis bent downwardly at a relatively shallow angle to form the forward,active portions 35 of the contacts. The extreme forward .ends ofcontacts 35 are bent upwardly and then rearwardly s o that preferably,when in the relaxed condition shown .inlFlG. 1, at least the upper endsof such upwardly and rearwardly bent portions of` contacts 35 lie withinthe grooves 42. The portions of the conductors forming thelowercontacts36 are similarly bent, but in reverse direc- Vtionsnfromthose ofthe upper contacts. Thus upon leavin g the seat 38 'the forwardends of the conductors forming the lower contacts are bent downwardlyangularly in runs 41, from which the conductors lie along the bottoms ofgrooves -4,4 for an appreciable distance. Forwardly of such straightportions the conductors are bent shallowly angularly upwardly to formthe active contact portions 436, the forward ends of such contacts beingbent downwardlyand then rearwardly so that at least a portion of Veachof the forward'ends of the lower conductors lie within grooves 44. v i YY Y l Contacts 35 and`36 cooperate with a circuit element lsuchas aprinted circuit board'14 in the manner more clearly shown in FIG. BoardV14A has a body 45 made, for example, of reinforced electricallyinsulating plastic material. vThe body 45 has a thickness which closelyLcoi'rrorrns to the vertical dimension of the recess 31 in the forwardend of insulating sheath 21, so that the body 45 may Vbe snugly receivedwithin such recess. Body 45 has a plurality Lof laterally spaced vupperand lower bared contact ribbons .or contacts 46 and 4 9, respectively,thereon, vthe upper and lower, contacts alternating in a lateraldirection soY as to `ov`e`rliev and make contact with the upperandlow'er uContact fingers 35 and 36. The contacts 46 and 49 are in 'theforni of electrically conducting strips,

sufch strips. being secured to body 45as by being adhesivelybo'ndedthereto. Strips 46 and 49 lead to various circuitfelelnents (not shown)included on the circuit b'oard l14. The rear edge lof the circuit boardshown has .a portion 51 of reduced width which conforms to the'vyidthfof recess 31 in connector part 10 so that portion Q51 `may bereceived an Yappreciable distance within recess Y "Connector part 11,designed for'cooperation with the rear end portion `ofthe abovedescribed connector part f1.0-, is 'shown more particularly in FIGS. 3and 4. As `there shown, connector part 11 has an Outer shell or housingl52, which may be made, for example, of metal. ',In1 the embodimentshown shell 52is made in two parts,

there being a first, forward portion 54 and a second, rearVlt'wverwaills offsheath 56. The forward end of the recess within sheath56 has upper and lower flared or tapered Azones 59 which are adaptedsealingly to engage the end portion '66 ofthe sheath which projectsrearwardly of the shellof'connector part 10.

The insert 57 is of such length that its forward end lies somewhatrearwardly of the forward end of shell portion :54. The :upperandlowerinner walls of shell portion 54 ,are spaced somewhat from insert 57 toprovide recesses 60 which receive the Vrear end of 'the shell Vofconnector part 10. VThe upper and lower surfaces of insert 57 areprovided with alternating grooves, the grooves in the upper surface ofthe insert, shown at 61, sloping forwardly and downwardly from anintermediate zone of the insert, and the grooves on the lower surface ofthe insert, not specifically shown, slanting forwardly and upwardly. Aconductor tape or foil, shown at 62 in FIG. 3, is secured to the bottomof the groove 61; a tape or foil is similarly secured to the bottom ofeach of the grooves in the lower surface of the insert. The forward ends64 of the grooves in the upper surface of the insert lie adjacent thelower forward edge of the insert, and the forward ends of the grooves inthe lower surface of the insert lie adjacent the upper forward cornersof the insert. The described con struction of the insert androf theupper and lower grooves therein provide a plurality of verticallyextending partitions, one between each pair of the grooves.

Theimultiple conductor cable, generally designated 13, has a pluralityof thin, ribbon-like conductor stripswhich are scaled in spaced parallelrelationship between `upper Vand lower insulating layers to form aninsulating body. Such cable may be, for example, one manufactured by theTape Cable Company, Rochester, New York; a typical one of such cablesemploys conductors made of thin copper strips and a body made of clear,transparent thermoplastic material such as a polyester resin.

As shown in FIG. 3, the insulation is removed from the forward edge ofthe cable 13 and alternate bared c'onductors of the cable are bentupwardly and downwardly to overlie the rear edge of the respectiveconductor strips "or foils on insert 57. The conductors may be securedas vforward end of connector part 11, the'rear end `66 ofthe sheath ofconnector part 10 snugly and sealingly fitting 'within the forward 'aredportion 59 of fshe'ath 56.- A 'peripherally extending bead A67 is'preferably divided 'on sheath portion'o, such bead being deformed upon'assem bly, as shown, whereby Ito insure the formation of a sealbetweensheaths 66'and l56. When connector portions 10 and 11 aretelescopically engaged, the rear ends of spring contact lingers l34initiallyenter'freely within the upper and lower grooves on insert l57,sincethe forward ends of such grooves lie well beyond thevertical centerof the insert and thus of the relaxed position of fingers 34.

"When, however, parts 10 and -11 are vadvanced toward fully matingposition, the forwardends of contact'lingers 34engagethe contact stripson the bottoms of fthe grooves in insert 57, and aref progressivelyllexed either upwardly or downwardly from their relaxed positions,whereby to make secure electrical contact with the conductor strips.

To insure that parts 10 and 11"will remain in fully -engaged position,there is provided a fla-nge`69 on vtheforward end of shell 54 and there'is provided a similar flange 70 on the'rearend -of shell portion-'17 ofconnector part 10. VSuch flanges vat -le'ast substantiallyabut when theconnector parts are fu-lly engaged, Vand may be held in such conditionby bolts, not shown, extending through 'holes in the two flanges.

To insure that the connector parts may be assembled only in 'the correctposition, there are provided orrienting formations on the shells. of theVrespective connector Vparts. In 'the embodiment jshown, 'suchformations take the form wof aproject-iori 71 in the forward endY ofShell'54, -a slot ployed to cooperate and -intert With'fthefconnector-part 11 shown in FIG. 3.

In FIG. 7 a multi-conductor attened cable 79 is shown connected to thecontacts of connector part 80. The connector part has a strong rigidshell 81 having an outwardly directed fiange 82 thereupon forcooperation, for example, with a tiange such as shown at 69 in FIG. 3.Connector part 80 has a rubber-like electrically insulating sheath 84snugly and sealingly engaged therewithin, such sheath having anelongated recess within the rear end thereof. Rearwardly directedContact fingers, of which one is shown at 85, extend rearwardly withinsuch recess. The forward ends of the contact fingers are secured withina strong rigid electrically insulating insert 86 as by being moldedtherewithin. Preferably the portion of the conductor finger within theinsert block is diverted as shown to provide a strong mechanicalconnection therewith. In the embodiment shown, the diversion of thecontact fingers is such as to expose alternate fingers 0n the upper andlower surfaces of the insert block, respectively, whereby to permitconnection between the conductors of the cable and the contact fingersas by soldered joints, of which one at the upper surface of the insertis shown at 83, and another of which, shown at the lower surface of theinsert, is designated 86.

In FIG. 8 there is shown a further alternative connector part 89 inaccordance with the invention. Connector part 89, which is double-ended,may, for example, be employed with two connector parts such as thatshown at 11 in FIG. 3.

Connector part 89 has a strong rigid shell 90 within which is securelyand sealingly fitted a rubber-like electrically insulating sheath 91. Astrong rigid electrically insulating insert 92 is snugly engaged withina seat in sheath 91, preferably being snapped therein before assembly ofthe sheath within the shell. An integral conductor 94, made of springymetal such as beryllium-copper, has its central portion mounted withininsert block 92 and its opposite, contact finger-forming end portions 95and 96 projecting longitudinally within elongated recesses at theopposite ends of the sheath 91. Shell 90 carries two peripherallyextending flanges 97, 99 which are adapted to interact with anges suchas that shown at 69 in FIG. 3, whereby to retain two connector parts 11in operative engagement with the opposite ends of connector part 89.

Although only a limited number of embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingspecification, it is to be especially understood that various changes,such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and thelike, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of theinvention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as will now be apparent to those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:

l. A separable electrical connector comprising an elongated electricallyinsulating sheath, an electrically insulating insert block positioned inthe sheath intermediate the ends of the sheath, the sheath presentingopen ended recesses having two opposite broad walls receiving contactsof other connector parts on opposite sides of the block, a first one ofsaid recesses having a markedly greater height than the second recess,and an elongated spring member affixed intermediate its length to theblock generally centrally of the thickness of the latter, opposite endsof the spring member projecting into the respective recesses in thesheath and forming contact fingers for engagement by said contacts ofsaid other connector parts, the contact finger in a first recess beingbent to lie with its outer end lying nearer one broad wall of the recessthan the other, the contact finger in the second recess lying generallyaxially of such second recess.

2. A separable electrical connector comprising a first connector parthaving an elongated electrically insulating resilient sheath, a rigidshell intimately surrounding and confining the sheath, means retainingthe sheath within the shell, an electrically insulating elongated insertblock positioned in the sheath intermediate the ends of lthe sheath, thesheath presenting elongated open ended recesses on opposite sides of theblock, a plurality of spaced elongated parallel spring members affixedintermediate their ends to the block, opposite ends of the springmembers projecting into the respective recesses in the sheath andforming contact fingers, the fingers in one recess lying with the outerfree ends thereof disposed adjacent a plane equidistant from theopposite walls of said one recess, and a second connector part adaptedto be received within said one recess of the first connector part, saidsecond connector part comprising an insulating board having a forwardedge portion adapted to be received within the said one recess of thefirst connector part, and a plurality o-f longitudinally extendingspaced parallel conductors on the board adapted to make electricalcontact with the contact fingers in the said one recess of the firstconnector part, there being inclined staggered grooves in the oppositefaces of the forward edge of the board, lthe spaced parallel conductorsbeing disposed at theV bottoms of the grooves in the board, the groovesbeing of such widths as to receive the contact fingers located in saidone recess of the first connector part when the forward edge portion ofthe board is mounted in said one recess.

3. An electrical connector as defined in claim 2 wherein the contactfingers in the other of said recesses in the first connector part liewith the outer free ends o-f sucoessive fingers disposed adjacent theopposite walls of said other recess, comprising a third connector partcomprising an insulating plate having a forward edge portion adapted tobe received within said other recess of the first connector part, and aplurality of longitudinally extending spaced parallel conductive stripson opposite faces of said plate adapted to make electrical contact withthe contact fingers in said other recess of the rst connector part, theconductive strips on one said face being in staggered relation to thesaid conductive strips on the other said face, whereby the said stripson opposite faces of the plate make contact with alternate contactfingers in said other recess when the forward edge portion of the plateis mounted in said other recess.

4. A separable electrical connector comprising an elongated electricallyinsulating sheath, an electrically insulating insert block positioned inthe sheath intermediate the ends of the sheath, the sheath presentingopen ended recesses having two opposite broad walls receiving contactsof other connector parts on opposite sides of the block, and anelongated spring member affixed intermediate its length to the blockgenerally centrally of the thickness of the latter, opposite ends of thespring member projecting into the respective recesses in the sheath andforming contact fingers for engagement by said contacts of said otherconnector parts, the contact finger in a first recess being bent to liewith its outer end lying nearer one broad wall of the recess than theothers, the contact finger in the second recess lying generally axiallyof such second recess.

5. A separable electrical connector comprising an elongated electricallyinsulating sheath of extended width, an electrically insulating insertblock of' extended width positioned in the sheath intermediate the endsof the sheath, the sheath presenting open ended laterally elongatedrecesses having two opposite broad parallel walls receiving contacts ofother connector parts on opposite sides of the block, a first one ofsaid recesses having a markedly greater height than the second recess, aplurality of spaced parallel elongated spring members afiixedintermediate their length to the block generally centrally of thethickness of the latter, opposite ends of the spring members projectinginto the respective recesses in the sheath and forming contact fingerslfor engagement by said contacts of said other connector parts, thecontact fingers in the first recess being bent to lie with their outerends lying nearer one broad wall of the recess than the other, the

Contact lingers in the second recess lying generally axially of suchsecond recess.

6. A separable electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe'inner surfaces of the opposite broad walls kol the lirst recess havelongitudinally extending parallel grooves therein, the grooves in theopposite Walls being disposed in staggered relationship, and asubstantial portion of the length of each of the contact lingers in thefirst recess lies Within its respective groove.

7. A separable electrical connector comprising a lirst connector parthaving an elongated electrically insulating resilient sheath, a rigidshell intimately surrounding and confining the sheath, means retainingthe sheath within the shell, an electrically insulating elongated insertblock p0- sitioned in the sheath intermediate the ends of the sheath,the sheath presenting elongated open ended recesses on opposite sides ofthe block, a plurality of spaced elongated parallel spring membersaliixed intermediate their ends to the block, opposite ends of thespring members projecting into the respective recesses in the sheath andforming contact lingers, the lingers in one recess lying With the outerfree ends of successive lingers disposed adjacent lthe opposite Walls ofsaid recess, and a second connector part adapted to be received withinsaid one recess of the lirst connector part, said second connector partcomprising a plate-like insulating board having a forward edge portionadapted to be received within the said one recess of the first connectorpart, and a plurality of longitudinally extending spaced parallelconductors on oppositefaces of the board adapted to make electricalcontact with the contact lingers in the said one recess of the firstconnector part, the said conductors on one said face being in staggeredrelation to the said conductors on the other said face, whereby saidconductors on oppositefaces ofsaid board engage alternate Contactlingers in said one recess when the forward edge .portion of the boardis mounted in said one recess.

References Cited in the iile of this .patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,383,926 White Allg, 28, 1945 2,732,534 Giel Jan. 24, 1956 i 2,804,601Harthman et al. Allg. 27 19,57 2,892,991 Beebe et al. June 30, 19592,924,808 Hewes et al. Feb. 9, 119,60 2,935,725 Fox c May 3, 19603,017,602 Little ,.--g Ian. 1 6, 1,962 3,089,114 Cole et al. May 7,1,963

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,004,488l France Nov. 28, 1951

1. A SEPARABLE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ELECTRICALLY INSULATING SHEATH, AN ELECTRICALLY INSULATING INSERT BLOCK POSITIONED IN THE SHEATH INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE SHEATH, THE SHEATH PRESENTING OPEN ENDED RECESSES HAVING TWO OPPOSITE BROAD WALLS RECEIVING CONTACTS OF OTHER CONNECTOR PARTS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE BLOCK, A FIRST ONE OF SAID RECESSES HAVING A MARKEDLY GREATER HEIGHT THAN THE SECOND RECESS, AND AN ELONGATED SPRING MEMBER AFFIXED INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH TO THE BLOCK GENERALLY CENTRALLY OF THE THICKNESS OF THE LATTER, OPPOSITE 